Fast Food Influence On Children Essay

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Fast food restaurants are a major factor that contributes with today’s obesity in American children. Obesity in children has escalated throughout the years, affecting not only weight gain, but health conditions as well. One of the many factors presented is portion size, which has been highly manipulated by massively expanding the serving size one should consume on a daily basis. What makes fast food convenient for families and their children is the inexpensive price range of these meals, which typically remains in the dollar range. However, advertising to children is considered one of the most impactful and powerful sources, due to the fact that it projects appealing content in order to increase viewers and buyers. The accessibility of availability …show more content…
Where one resides may influence the food choice consumption depending on what is the nearest fast food location from home. According to the article “Fast Food is King of the Neighborhood, Study Reports,” Steven Reinberg states, “The obesity problem isn’t just a lifestyle issue. It’s not just about individuals and families making bad choices. It’s also about the environment and the fact that the environment shapes our choices to a powerful degree.” Families tend to opt for the nearest and most accessible fast food restaurant, without being aware of how location affects their food choices and alter consumption. For instance, according to the article “Moving to a Poor Neighborhood Can Cause Weight Gain,” author Sifferlin highly believes the fact that living environments can have a major impact on body size and health conditions for any individual. “The people who moved to the higher-index neighborhoods—the ones more deprived of resources—gained more weight compared to the people who moved to a neighborhood that had the same or lower index. For every 1-unit increase in the index, residents gained about 1.41 pounds. Of the people who moved to a more deprived neighborhood, the longer they stayed there, the larger the impact on their weight.” A perfect …show more content…
Fast food restaurants have a variety number of food choices presented in their menus, from the traditional burger and fries, to a more expanded international and healthier outtake such as, burritos, teriyaki bowls, soups and salads.For instance, in the advertisement “Create Your Own Kids’ Meal!” gives the option of building a custom meal of any of the options listed such as, a burger, grilled cheese, hot dog, chicken strips, fries, apple slices with “fat-free” caramel, juice, milk or shakes with an additional toy giveaway. However, these options contain very minimal nutrients and a lot more lipids, sugars and carbs which could cause obesity in children. In the article “Fast Food for Children and Adolescents,” the author states, “Adolescents and families who live in towns with five or more fast food outlets were 30 percent more likely to eat fast food” (Demory). With this statement, one can use this evidence as a reference to what should one consume and purchase, meaning towards the healthier outtakes, even though it may not be as accessible nor affordable. The expansion of number of food choices in a fast food restaurant menus makes it accessible and convenient for families and their children to select the perfect meal, however these foods contain very minimal healthy options and a lot

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